System for address initialization of generic nodes in a distributed command and control system and method therefor

A method for initializing a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and at least one node coupled to a common bus, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing on the communication bus a reference current which increases with time to create a distance voltage at said node;
• monitoring the distance voltage at said node;
• when the distance voltage of said node reaches a trigger point, assigning an address to said node relative to a time at which the distance voltage measured at said node reaches the trigger point.

A node, adapted for use with a control unit in a distributed control system having a common bus, the node comprising:

• analog distance determination circuitry adapted to be coupled to the bus to determine a location on the bus of the node relative to the control unit;
• node control circuitry coupled to the analog distance determination circuitry and adapted to communicate with the control unit to provide said location to the control unit and to receive an address from the control unit.

A method for finding relative locations of nodes to each other in a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and a communication bus coupled to the nodes, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a signal to the nodes, the signal creating a measurement signal along a length of the communication bus where the measurement signal has a characteristic that is a function of distance of the measurement signal from the control unit along the communication bus;
• and
• measuring the measurement signal at each node to create distance indicators, wherein the each of the distance indicators identifies a specific location for a respective node.

A controller in a distributed control system having at least one control element, the controller adapted to communicate via a common bus, the controller comprising:

• a voltage developing circuit coupled to the common bus and adapted to develop a reference voltage on the common bus at the node, the voltage developing circuit adapted to develop incremental voltages on the common bus at the control element;
• and
• a communication circuit coupled to the common bus, the communication circuit adapted to receive identification information from the node via the common bus, the communication circuit adapted to assign an address to the control element via the common bus.